Jos Buttler has reclaimed the T20 crown, overtaking Kieron Pollard to become the highest run-scorer in the format’s history. The England star achieved the milestone while smashing a blistering 20-ball 51 for Manchester Super Giants against Welsh Fire in The Hundred on Wednesday.
But it was what Buttler said after the match that got Indian fans talking.
Moments after becoming T20 cricket’s leading run-scorer, the England great was already predicting who would one day take the record away from him. His answer? India’s 15-year-old batting prodigy, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
“Yeah, it’s really cool actually to think you’ve got the most T20 runs out of everyone. Someone will surpass it one day and his name’s probably Sooryavanshi,” Buttler told Sky Sports after the match.
The endorsement carries extra weight given Buttler’s close association with the youngster. The England white-ball captain shared the Rajasthan Royals dressing room with Sooryavanshi in the IPL and witnessed first-hand the fearless batting that has made the teenager one of cricket’s brightest prospects.
At just 15, Sooryavanshi has already earned glowing praise from several former cricketers. Only days ago, Robin Uthappa suggested the youngster could have a bigger impact on white-ball cricket than Sachin Tendulkar, provided he is guided carefully through the early years of his career.
For Buttler, meanwhile, the record marked a remarkable turnaround after a difficult spell with the bat.
“Funny how quickly cricket can change. One day you’re the dog, one day you’re the lamp post. A few months ago I was struggling for form. Then, in the last few weeks especially, I probably feel like I’m batting as well as I ever have. It’s been a lot of fun,” he said.
“You’ve only ever got two options. You either give up or you’ve got the energy to keep going and try to rediscover your form. So that’s all the things I’ve been focusing on. I’ve had the energy and determination to get back there, and that’s what I’ve done.”
The 34-year-old admitted he had hoped to surpass Pollard a game earlier, when Manchester Super Giants faced MI London and the West Indies legend was sitting in the dugout.
“It would’ve been nice to get past Polly while he was there. Some great names are on that list, some special players, so yeah I’m really proud of that,” Buttler said.
Records, however, are meant to be broken. Buttler may now sit alone at the top of the all-time T20 run charts, but he already believes the player capable of rewriting them is only just beginning his journey. If Sooryavanshi continues on his current trajectory over the coming years, the England star believes the Indian teenager could one day occupy the very summit he has just reached.
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